Oliver Burns, whose mantra is ‘thoughtful luxury’, did the work completely free of charge following the sale of their splendid Walpole Mayfair development. Their transformation of New Belvedere House’s conservatory and snooker room took several months to complete and both rooms are now more ‘boutique hotel’ than homeless hostel’.
Britain’s top soldier joined Veterans Aid Patron The Dowager Viscountess Rothermere, CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy, hostel manager Pat O’Connor and residents past and present to celebrate completion of the work.
General Wall said, “I am hugely impressed by the commitment by those who have designed this and also by the fact that those who are staying here, in New Belvedere House, recognise the opportunities that it offers. They really appreciate it and are clearly mad keen on what has been done here. Its tremendous and I’m really glad to have had the opportunity to come down and see it.”
New Belvedere House in Stepney provides accommodation for up to 55 ex-servicemen who have been homeless or faced becoming homeless. Some have slept rough or made temporary homes in woodlands. All will stay with the charity until they are able to sustain independent lives again. In the meantime they will enjoy the eclectic collection of carefully selected fabrics and furnishings assembled by Oliver Burns to make them feel valued.
Dr Milroy said, “We were stunned when Oliver Burns approached us and offered to fund and redesign these rooms. They are at the heart of our ‘hostel’ but the word really is a misnomer, because while people are living at New Belvedere House it is their home and we want them to be proud of it.
“Although it didn’t cost us a penny, we can’t put a price on this transformation. Its value is the message it sends to every formerly homeless veteran who spends time here; that he is respected and, like everyone else, entitled to live with dignity in clean, pleasant surroundings.”
As part of their commitment to ‘thoughtful luxury’, Oliver Burns wanted to be part of a charity that helped people get back onto the ladder of life. Moved by the plight of homeless ex-servicemen, the practice’s founders came across Veterans Aid, which has an unparalleled success rate in breaking the cycle of crisis. After just one visit by Joe Burns and Sharon Lillywhite they knew this was the project for them.
Joe said, “We wanted to do something special for the charity that touched our hearts by using our design expertise to transform the hostel into an even more warm and welcoming environment than it already is, and contribute in a small way to the excellent work of Veterans Aid.”
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